Missionary Medicine Intensive

Sutures

When you're 'preparing' to live in a third world country, you quickly realize your health and healthcare are about to change in a drastic way!  Not only will our access to healthcare be limited, but we will be living among people who struggle to maintain basic health and wellness.  Being around suffering people will be a challenge, and as a mom, I really want to gain knowledge and training in regional illnesses and how to distinguish between critical and non-critical conditions.  I attended the Missionary Medical Intensive class at Equip International in March to have intense time focusing on these issues.

Taking blood pressure

The aim of the course is to train Christian missionaries to care for physical needs when there is no doctor available.  During 2 weeks of classes, we were in lecture and practical labs on splinting, suturing, physical examinations, childbirth, traction, abscesses and lesions, tooth extractions  and temporary fillings,  and more! 

We learned how to use the tools and equipment that are available, as well as how to improvise when working in a place where stocked pharmacies and endless supply cupboards don't exist.  Tropical diseases, skin conditions, parasites, malnutrition, dehydration and more were the topics of conversation throughout our time there.   Diseases that I thought were completely eradicated are still devastating people and communities around the world.  How did I not know this???

Learning to splint

We studied logic of diagnosis, pain control, fluid balance, childbirth and many other situations that we're likely to face.  Our days began at 7am with breakfast and worship/devotion, then classes went until 5pm.  Beyond lectures, we had the opportunity to review actual case studies,  and use an amazing medical reference book written by a doctor in Ethiopia.  We were given case studies from which we were to work up diagnoses and treatments- then the nurses would check our diagnosis- If we were correct, we'd move onto the next patient, but if we were incorrect we had to rediagnose.  Students diagnosed between 40-80 patients over the course of the training!  We worked until 10pm or so each night diagnosing kidney failure, impetigo, polio, enteric fever, bubonic plague, etc. 

Poor Betty!

The class was made up of missionaries currently serving on the field, as well as short term team members, nurses and regular folks, like me!  It was great to meet people who are working in South America, Asia, Africa and here in the U.S to carry the gospel of Christ.

Inserting an NG tube

Intradermal Injections

Our trainers were professors, an ER doctor, a dentist, registered nurses, and a midwife- we learned a lot from one another too! 

Physical Examinations

In our opening lecture, the instructor said, "We bind the wounds, God is the Healer!"  I know how crazy it sounds to even attempt to teach laymen such an expanse of knowledge- That's why they focus on teaching us how to use the course textbook! 

I loved learning from men and women who openly acknowledge the weakness of our flesh, and admit that we are ALL ill-equipped. No matter how much training we receive we are still fully dependent on the Lord.  Whether a medical doctor or a housewife,  I want to do all things as unto the Lord, and to serve God by serving His people.  Two weeks away from my husband and family were very difficult but good training for me as well- I'd never been away from them like this, but they did great, and we were so happy to be all together again!